Falcons director of rugby Andrew said he had never seen a player with more potential than the pacy 23-year-old.

His comments came after Caucau - as he is more familiarly known - revealed he had been impressed with Newcastle's initial attempt to capture his signature when Andrew and Falcons star Jonny Wilkinson flew to New Zealand last week to meet him.

With little doubt there is mutual admiration on both sides, it would not be a surprise to see him playing at Kingston Park next season.

And Caucaunibuca's lawyer, David Jones, said: "Rob came across to New Zealand for a constructive discussion regarding Newcastle and how they operate."

"Rob is a really nice guy and Rupeni was impressed. But it wasn't a negotiation on terms."

Jones stressed that, at this stage, Caucaunibuca is merely trying to establish what options are open to him and, while it would be a great coup to gain a player of his calibre, Newcastle will be monitoring how Caucaunibuca recovers should he need surgery on a shoulder injury which threatens to end his Super 12 season.

"I doubt whether I have seen a player with more potential than Caucaunibuca," said Andrew. "He would be sensation in the Premiership and if we can get him here it would be tremendous."

Jones added: "What we are trying to do for Rupeni, rather than try to enter into negotiations, is find out what the environments are at the clubs. It is not just an issue of money."

Newcastle are the only club in England to have made a firm approach, but they face competition from other sides in France and Japan, while Jones is exploring ways of financing a continued stay in New Zealand.

Meanwhile, Andrew confirmed that after a very difficult start to the week with the death of Soa Otuvaka and also Ben Woods' awful injury - he has broken his leg in three places and will need an operation to pin it - the Falcons are now fully focused on Sunday's home match with Leicester (3pm).

"Leicester are now back to full strength, so we're expecting a feisty match in more ways than one, especially after we beat them here last season," said Andrew.

"The match will also put Jamie Noon into the record books for 47 consecutive starts for the Falcons over the last two seasons.

"That's quite a record, particularly given the way in which he plays the game. In some respects, next weekend's Benefit Match in aid of Soa's family is more important than this weekend's or the Cup Final. I'd like to ask everyone to dig deep and come over to Kingston Park on Saturday, April 10 for a game which will be a testament to Soa and our love and respect for him."

Otuvaka's funeral service will be at St Nicholas' Cathedral in Newcastle on Monday at 2pm.

International duo Stuart Grimes and Garath Archer are back in the second row for Newcastle against Leicester and Springbok lock Mark Andrews is on the bench - although he will play some part in the game - while Hall Charlton starts at scrum-half.

England pair Martin Corry and Julian White slot back into a Tigers side aiming to make it four league wins in a row. Fresh from his Triple Crown-winning exploits with Ireland, Geordan Murphy comes back into the team on the right wing and fly-half Jaco van der Westhuyzen has shaken off a knock to the back picked up last weekend, although a hip injury to Leon Lloyd sees Glenn Gelderbloom come in at outside centre.